Raft.



J. c. ANDERSON.

RAFT.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 24. 1917. l ,Qfiflfilfi. Patented Mar. 26, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

J. C. ANDERSON.

RAFT.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 24. 19!]- Patented Mar. 26, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

3111mm T01 M J. C. ANDERSON.

RAFT.

APPLlCATlON FILED MAY 24. I917- Lfiwfil a. Patented Mar. 26, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3- I. C. ANDERSON.

RAFT.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 24. 19H.

1 ,,%@,61 Patented Mar. 26, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4' JOHN C. ANDERSON, OF EUREKA, CALIFORNIA.

RAFT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Man 26, 191%.

Application filed. May 24, 1917. Serial No. 170,637.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN C. ANDERSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at 620 Third street, Eureka, in the county of Humboldt and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rafts, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to sea going rafts, the body portion of which is made of logs, timbers or logs and timbers. I am well aware that it is not new to bind or otherwise fasten together a large number of logs and timbers having an outline more or less resembling the hull of a ship and to transport them upon water from One port to another by means of a tug boat.

The present invention contemplates the construction of a raft in such manner as to incorporate in the body of the raft a sea going tug boat for the purpose of navigating the body of logs and timbers forming the raft upon a body of water. I accomplish this object by first forming on the water a floor for the raft by binding together a por tion of the logs or timbers to be shipped in such shape and dimensions as it may be desired to make the raft. After firmly securing the first layer or base of theraft to gether, I superimpose thereupon another layer of logs, timbers, or logs and timbers, cross piling at intervals to insure stability and conforming to the shape and dimensions of the floor layer and continue to build up the raft in this manner until a substantial base or floor has been formed. After a number of layers of logs and timbers have been so placed in position, I start to form side walls to the structure of sufficient thickness to withstand the strain incident to the raft by the waters upon which itis to be navigated. I construct the walls by piling, cross piling and chaining together the timbers to e transported using care to break the joints, thus forming a hold in the raft in which hold I pile lengthwise and across the timbers, deals, cants, boards, etc., to the depth of the hold. This material is then bound tightly together bv means of chains attached to the bottom. When the hold is filled to the top thereof, the side walls are bound tightly together by chains passing over the top of the entire structure. At intervals some of the cross piled timbers protrude beyond the outer line of thevsides and ends of the raft a short distance for the etc., used in its construction purpose of receiving a chain thereon to tightly bind the layers of timbers therebetween and the floor of the raft. In building up the raft, I leave a pocket in the stern end thereof of such size and dimensions as will admit of the intro duction therein of a sea going tug. This pocket is formed by so laying the logs and space between the ends thereof and in the center of the raft, and of suflicient depth longitudinally to admit of the floating of the tug into the pocket so that the bow of the tug will bear against the logs or timbers at the inner end of the pocket and the stern of the tug will be flush with the stern of the raft, the tug being fastened firmly in the pocket by chains, bolts, plates or in any other suitable manner, thus adapting the propeller and rudder of the tug to act as the propeller and rudder of the entire raft. As each tlmbers at the stern of the raft as to leave a layer of logs or timbers is placed upon the raft at the beginning of the pocket formation, the raft by reason of the super-imposed logs and timbers will settle or sink in the water causing the base of the pocket to go lower and lower with each additional layer, thereby providing clearance for the keel of the tug boat in order to float the tug into its position within the raft.

By this construction, I am enabled to build a raft carrying its own motive power and adapted not only to transport logs and timbers from one port to another on the same coast but adapted to transport logs and timbers over seas. As an auxiliary motive power, I provide masts which are secured between the tiers of logs and timbers of the raft upon which masts sails may be mounted to aid in the navigation of the raft. Upon these masts, I also provide derrick arms for use in disassembling the raft at its point of destination, the power for operating the derrick being supplied by the tug boat.

Now it will be seen that upon the arrival of the raft at its point of destination that the entire raft may be disassembled and sorted out while the chains, ropes, cables, may be placed in the hold of the tug and returned to the original point of departure for reuse. Thus the entire raft with the exception of the binding means has been composed of its own cargo.

For a more particular description of the invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings, which are made a part of this specification, and in which:--

Figure I is a plan view of the floor of the raft showing the method of binding the logs togetherj I Fig. II is a stern view of the raft showing the pocket formed therein for the introduction of the tug boat.

Fig. 111 is a side elevation partly in section showing the method of binding the timbers together vertically.

Fig. IV is a stern view of the raft showing the tug boat incorporated therein.

Fig. V is a de ail view showing the method of binding the end logs together end to end.

Fig. V1 is a detail view of the stirrup for engaging the end of the binding timbers.

Fig. VII is a side elevation of the stern of the raft with a portion broken away showing the tug therein.

Referring to the reference numerals of the drawings, 1 represents the logs forming the floor of the raft which are bound together by chains 2 which chains pass alternately over and under each alternate lo 3 are chains which pass through the abutting ends of legs 1 and are secured on the under sides thereof by spikes 4i and which may be drawn together by means of bolt 5 passing through eyelets 6 and adapted to engage nut 7. 8 and 9 are masts adapted to carry sails 10. 11 is the derrick arm which is mounted on mast 9. 12 is a derrick cable. 13 is a portable electric hoist adjuster- 14-. are binding chains for binding the logs and timbers of the raft rigidly together.

The meeting ends of the adjoining layers of logs and timbers forming the raft are staggered 01' out of alinement as shown in Fig. 1, which method of construction results in the meeting ends of the logs or timbers being held in a vise like grip between the sides of the adjoining logs or timbers so that the result is the whole raft becomes a rigid, compact and unyieldable body. The several tiers of logs and timbers composing the depth of the raft being Gopiea of this patent may be obtained for bound together vertically by chains extending from the bottom or floor upwardly to and engaging the top layer of logs. The raft may be formed in such shape as desired for instance the bow may be tapered by reducing the number of logs and timbers in the transverse layers, as the construction proceeds to the bow end of the raft, thereby giving a pointed shape to the bow of the raft which is, of course, very desirable.

It will be seen from the'foregoing description that the tug as incorporated in the raft not only furnishes power for the raft but furnishes also accommodations for the crew and means of conveyance of the equipment necessary to the building of the raft, and further may be used on its return trip for towing purposes, thereby providing a means of revenue on its return trip.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is 1. A raft formed of logs, said logs being so placed with relation to the body of said aft as to form a pocket having a base and two side walls in the stern of said raft.

2. A raft formed of logs, said logs being bound together in such manner as to form a pocket having three walls and a floor in the stern of said raft.

3. A raft formed of logs bound together in such manner as to form a pocket having three walls and a floor in the stern of said raft by the protruding ends of a portion of the logs forming the body of said raft.

4. A raft formed of logs bound together in such manner as to form a pocket in the rear of said raft, adapted to have a tug boat floated thereinto, and means to protect said boat against rise and fall in said pocket due to the sea swell.

5. A raft formed of logs, being bound too-ether with some of their rear ends extendz mg farther rearward than others in such manner as to form a three walled pocket above the floor of said raft.

In testimony whereof I' affix my signature.

JOHN G. ANDERSON.

Washington, I). G. 

